Council of the Haida Nation
X̱aaydaG̱a Waadlux̱an Naay Council of the Haida Nation | |
|---|---|
| Largest village | Skidegate |
| Official languages | Haida English |
| Demonym(s) | Haida |
| Type | Indigenous Government |
| Leaders | |
• President | Kil tlaats 'gaa (Peter Lantin) |
• Vice President | Ginn wadluu un uula isdaa ayaagang (Trevor Russ) |
• Regional Representatives for HlG̱aagilda (Skidegate) | Gaagwiis (Jason Aslop) Kung Xangajii (Shawn Cowpar) Huux̱ (Percy Crosby) Guud Yuwans (William Russ) |
• Regional Representatives for G̱aaw (Old Massett) | Kung Xyaalas (Tyler Bellis) Kaad Giidee (Robert Bennett) Xylang Jaad Xylaa (Leslie Brown) Stephen "Buck" Grosse |
• Regional Representatives for T'agwan (Vancouver) | David Smith Giinowaan (Earnest Swanson) |
• Regional Representatives for Kxeen (Prince Rupert) | Kaakuns (Pansy Collison) Dave Dellil |
• Representative for the Skidegate Band Council | Billy Yovanovich, Chief Councillor |
• Representative for the Old Massett Village Council | Ken Rea, Chief Councillor |
| Legislature | Multicameral Citizen Legislature: House of Assembly Elected Government: Council of the Haida Nation Hereditary Leadership: Hereditary Chiefs Council Local Governments: Village Councils |
| Establishment | 7 December 1974 |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,180 km2 (3,930 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2016 estimate | 1,845 on Haida Gwaii 2,000 elsewhere |
• Density | 0.181/km2 (0.5/sq mi) |
| Currency | Canadian dollar |
| Time zone | Pacific |
| Calling code | +1 250 |
Website www | |
The Council of the Haida Nation (CHN; Haida: X̱aaydaG̱a Waadlux̱an Naay) is the elected government of the Haida people, the Indigenous occupants of the Haida Gwaii archipelago in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The council consists of a president and vice-president elected by popular vote, twelve regional representatives from four electoral regions, and one appointed representative from each of the Old Massett Village Council and Skidegate Band Council.
The CHN was formed in 1974, with the goal of organizing the Haida nation to seek recognition of Aboriginal title throughout Haida Gwaii. In April 2024, after 20 years of negotiations, the CHN and the Government of British Columbia signed the Rising Tides Haida Title Lands Agreement (Haida: Gaayhllxid/Gíhlagalgang), which recognized Haida Aboriginal title throughout the entirety of Haida Gwaii, and which will see the transfer of all Crown land to the Haida Nation. In February 2025, the Government of Canada also recognized Haida title with the signing of the Big Tide (Haida: Chiix̲uujin · Chaaw K̲aawga) agreement.
There are two main Haida villages on Haida Gwaii: Old Massett (Haida: G̱aw) and Skidegate (Haida: Hlg̱aagilda). Haida populations in Prince Rupert (Haida: Kxeen) and Vancouver (Haida: T'agwan) are also represented in the CHN. The CHN recognizes the separate jurisdiction of the Kaigani Haida, in southern Alaska, who are members of the Haida Nation, but are governed by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.